Swivel-jointed wired electrical fixture



April 22, 1952 B. A. WILSON SWIVEL-JOINTED WIRED ELECTRICAL FIXTURE member; and

Patented Apr. 22, 1952 OFFICE SWIVEL-JOINTED WIRED ELECTRICAL FIXTURE Bertram A. Wilson, Etobicolre Township, York County, Ontario, Canada Application October 16, 1948, Serial No. 54,981

8 Claims. (01. 248-278 This invention relates to swivel-jointed wired electrical fixtures, and more particularly to a joint for an electric fixture to facilitate movement of an electric light bulb to a variety of angular positions.

An object of this invention is to provide an adjustable electric fixture which may be repeat-V edly set toa variety of angular positions without causing failure of the insulation on the electrical wire carrying current to the electric device.

A further object of this invention is to provide means whereby an incandescent bulb may be adjusted to a variety of positions, but where such continual adjustments will not cause twisting of the electric" wires to thereby cause their failure.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification,

taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference in dicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Fig. 1 is-a side elevation of the device showing the lamp receptacle in an erect position.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 taken on the section 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device, as in Fig. 2 but showing the lamp receptacle and tubular member rotated through its full excursion of 90? about the longitudinal axis of the tubular Fig. 4 is a sectionthrough the device on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Referring to all the figures. a base member or --supporting'shell 5 is adapted to be mounted on a suitable surface such as a wall (not shown) by means of a screw 6 passing through a hole I inshell 5. A threaded hole 8 extends through the crown of supporting shell 5 and carries therein an externally threaded nipple 9 upon which is threaded a nut or collar I0. In the drawings, colla'r I0 is shown as having a hexagonal outer contour. Resting upon the outer end of collar Ill is a substantially U-shaped channel-shaped sad dle II having a hole I I a in its web adapted to register with the passage through collar I 0. A hollow cylindrical member I2 having a diameter substantially greater than the breadth of saddle II is embraced by the arms of the saddle and rests longitudinally therein, the outer edge of the arms of the saddle II bearing against the outer periphery ofcylindrical member I2. A slot I3 having a breath slightly greater than the diameter of the hole in the saddle I I and collar I ll extends over approximately one-quarter of the periphery of the curved wall of said cylindrical member. A nipple14 of the same diameter as within that range.

wardly extending shoulder I5 thereon, extends through slot I3, passage II, and thence is screwed into collar II), the two nipples I4 and 9 forming, in combination, a conduit extending from the base member 5 to the interior of the cylindrical member I2 to carry a wire. A helical spring I6 bearing against the underside of shoulder I 5 presses cylindrical member I2 within saddle II to thereby provide frictional engage ment therebetween, and through the medium of saddle I I member I2 is pressed into frictional engagement with collar I0.

Nipples 9 and I4 are hollow in order to permit passage therethrough of a pair of insulated flexible electrically conducting wires which carry current to a lamp receptacle I! which is mounted on conduit 26 threaded into cylindrical member due to the frictional forces existing between the extremities of saddle I I and the periphery of tubular member I2, may be set to any position between the two extremes of rotation. It should also be evident that saddle II may be rotated about the longitudinal axis of screw 9 and nipple I4 through almost a complete rotation of 360 and due to the friction between collar I0 and saddle II, may be set at any desired position The result of the provision of these two degrees of rotation is thereforea receptacle which may be turned and set to virtually any angular position within the limits of a geometrical half-sphere.

A set screw I8 is threaded through collar III and can be tightened against nipple I4 to retain wires which pass through screw 9 and nipple "from becoming twisted about each other due to continual rotation in one direction, a projectlon 20 extends downwardly from the lower face of saddle I I to engage theset screw I8 and thus prevent the cylindrical member from rotating more than 360 about thelongitudinal axis of the nipples 9 and I4. Therefore the electrically conducting cord cannot become twisted so as to cause failure thereof.

A further characteristic of this invention 'is the inclusion of a fibre strip 2| which extends around approximately three-quarters of the inner periphery of cylindrical member I2. A slot 22 in the fibre strip provides a passage through-which nipple I4 extends. In order to protect the strip 2I from wear due to direct pressure thereon by helical spring I6, a concavo-convex bearing washer 23 is provided around the nipple as hown in Figs. 2 and 3. Slot 22 in strip 2| is chosen to have a length approximately one-half that of slot l3 in cylindrical member l2. As tubular member I2 is rotated about its longitudinal axis from one extreme of rotation to the other, the two extremes 'b eing shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it will. be seenthats strip 2 1: willuco-operate with the bearing washer 23 to close the slot I3. Plates 2d and 25 are provided for closing the ends of cylindrical,

member l2 to provide a completelyclosed.cha n; ber therein.

Since a slot is provided in the-fibre strip 2| in order that it may slide relativelyto. nipple, H5, over a restricted range, whether or. not strip 21 rotates with cylindrical member]: when the lat: ter is rotated about its longitudinal axis or whether it remains stationary relatively; tothe nipple, depends upon the relative coeflicients of fnictionbetweenthefibrestrip and the cylindri ca rne nr ber and betw een the fibre I and the 3 X b aring washer. Cleo lyfiff the b9 fi t}; H is greater than the cceflici'entoi friction between the fibre strip and the bearing washen the fibre strip, will rotate along with the tubular member relatively to. the nipple, and a sli g action, willtalzeplace between the bearwashez and the fibrestrip, until the fibre strip has otated so that the trailing edge ot-the slot therein bearsagainst the. nipple, and thereafter fibre" strip 21 will slide relativelyto the cylindr ical member Thus it will be seen that, as the p-receptacle is rotated from one extreme to use? of inner of 1e,cylindri'c alirneniberIIZ is less than thecocifio entof friction between the. fibre 21; and. the bearing washerila, the operaof the-device issomewhat difierent." In. this r ce, threadedconduitifibymeans oiwhich eptaolje, l l; is. secured to cylindrical member i2, plays. a. part, the operation of fibre. strip 2!. As anexample t its operation, movement of the from the, positionshown. inFig 3 'to that I} !2 in a clockwise, directinn. about its longitudinal axis, fibre strip 2! slide s withinmember.v L2 This sliding action continues until the trailing edge is raised, thereby, rotating cylindrical member X which projects a short dis- I IllQZ llbfil I21 Fibre 'stripfZl n fore d to rotate along with cylinl2; and. to. slide, relatively to. bearv A I ,sith whichithad previouslybeen nary contact, so that, as shown in Fig.

1 9 Ga membererred construction nipple l4 isL'threaded i. th 6113:} l'ltjso thatgby axially rotating nipple the fibre strip and ninQFig. 2fwil'l bedescribed. he receptacle fi -i. engagements leadingfedge of vary-the pressure oi helical spring] 6, In,

"irc r fqolm he n e y. be e n a It is thought that the construction and use of the invention will be apparent from the above description of the various parts and their purpose. It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to bev taken as a preferred example of the same and that various. changes in, the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A swivel jointed wired electrical fixture adapted for universal angular adjustment comprising a round hollow member having a slot of extending peripherally thereof and a hole in its curved wall spaced peripherally from the ends of the slot, a base member, a conduit adapted to carry a wire and supported at one, end in, said base member and extending through the, slot to the interior of the round hollow member and being provided with a transversely extending shoulder adjacent its other end, spring meansco npressed between said shoulder. and the inner surface of the round member adjacent theslot for pressing. the round member into frictional, engagement with the base member, and another conduit adapted to carry av wire, said other conduit communicating with the hole in theround member and being secured to and projecting. outwardly from the curved side of, theround member.

2. A swivel jointed electrical fixtureadapted tor universal angular adjustment comprisinga cylindrical hollow member havingaTsloti of. greater length than widthin its ae vedwsu and extending peripherally thereof an'dahole in spurre all spaced from the ends of the slot, suppo t g member, a conduit'adapted to'c'arry. a wire and supported at one end insaid supporting, member and extending through the slot toftheinteri'of of the cylindrical member andb'eing', providedwith a transversely extending shoulder! adjacent its other end, spring means compressed between said shoulder and the inner surface oflthe. cylindrical member. adjacent the slot ior'pres'sing'. the, round member into frictional engagement with, the supporting member,- another conduit "adapted to carry a wire, said other conduit communicating with the hole in the cylindrical member and'b'eing secured to and projecting outwardly from: the curved side or the cylindrical member and a substantially U-Shaped channel member. suppea d by the supporting member and having a hole therein through which the first conduitp' see, the arms of the channel member embracing. the

. cylindrical member which lies, longitudinally. be-

vanced, or retracted. After the desired spring V piicfisjure, has; been found, set screw ltiis tightened upon nipple is to prevent its moving from that position. r

tween them. 7 V h 3.-A swivel jointedwired electrical fixture adapted 'for universal angular adjustment comprising. around hollow. memberjhaving a slot'of greater length thanwidth .it's curved Wall, and extending peripherally thereof and' a hole "its curved wall spaced peripherally. from the. ends of the slot, a base member, a conduit adapted to carry a wire and supported aton' en in said base member and extending through the 'slot' to the interior of the round hollo'w'member and being provided with a transversely,extending shoulder adjacent its other end, sprin means compressed between said shoulder. and the surface ofthe round: memberl adjacent the, slot for pressing'the round member into frictionalengagement with the base member, anotherconduit adapted to carry a Wire,said other conduitcom- Q munioating with the hole in the round member and being secured to and projecting outwardly from the curved side of the round 1 interengaging stop members bet: member and supporting member to of the round member about the ion of the first mentioned conduit.

l. A swivel jointed eiec adapted for. universal angular adius prising a round hollow member greater length than width in its curved extending peripherally tliereoi h WEE ole i curved wall spaced peripherally from the slot, a supper 11;; m mber, a nipple to wire and supported at one end in the supporting member extending through the slot in. the round member and having transversely extending shoulder adjacent its other end, spring means compressed between the shouldeand the inner surface or" the round memb r inemb into engagement with the supporting member, said nipple being longitudinally adjustable within said supporting member so as to vary the com ression of the spring means, means for looking the nipple in place after adjustment, and a conduit adapted to carry a wire, said conduit communicating with the hole in the round member and being secured to and project ing outwardly from the curved side of round member.

5. A swivel jointed wired electrical fixture adapted for universal an ular adjustment comprising a round hollow member havin a slot of greater length than width in its curved wall and extending peripherally thereof and a hole in its curved wall spaced peripherally from the ends of the slot, a supporting collar, a nipple supported at one end in the collar and adapted to carry a wire, a set screw for mitaining the nipple in the collar, a channehshaped saddle resting on said collar and having a hole therein through which the nipple passes, the ends of t e saddle bearing against the round member, a downward projection on said saddle for engaging the set screw to act as a stop to limit rotation of the round member about the longitudinal axis of the nipple, and a conduit adapted to carry a wire, said conduit communicating with the hole in the round membar and being secured to and projecting outwardly from the curved side of the round membet.

5. A swivel jointed wired electrical fixture adapted for universal angular adjustment comprising a round hollow member having a slot of greater length than width in its curved wall and extending peripherally thereof and a hole in its curved wall spaced peripherally from the ends of the slot, a supporting member, a nipple adapted to carry a wire and supported at one end in the supportin member and extending through the slot in the round member and having a transversely extending shoulder adjacent its other end, sprin means compressed between the shoulder and the inner surface of the round member adjacent the slot for pressing the round member into frictional engagement with the supporting member, said nipple being threaded in said supporting member and rotatable to effect longitudinal adjustment the eof so as to vary the compression of the spring means, a set screw extending wit in the supportin member to bear against the nipple to lock. said nipple in place after ad justment, and a conduit adapted to carry a Wire, said conduit communicating with the hole in the adjacent the slot for pressing the roundround member and bein ing outwardly from the member.

7. A swivel jointed wired electrical fixture adapted for universal angular adjustment colliprising a round hollow member having a slot of length than width in it curved wall and peripherally the. a in its curred wall spaced peripherall om the ends of the to carry a wire and supported one end in said supporting member extending through the slot in the round member having a transversely extending shoulder adjacent its other spring means compressed between the shoulder the inner surface of the round member adjaeen the slot for pressing the round member into frictional engagement with the supporting member, a concave-convex ship or" material adapted to cover the slot engaging the inner surface or the round member, a slot in the strip registering wit but shorter than the slot in the round member, said strip being slidable within theround member when it is rotated relative to the nipple, and a conduit adapted to carry a wire, said conduit communicating with the hole secured to and project-- urred side of the round in the round member and being secured to and i projectingoutwardly from the curved side of the round member.

8. A swivel jointed wired electrical fixture adapted for universal angular adjustment co1nprising a round hollow member having a slot of greater length than width in its curved wall and extending peripherally thereof and a hole in its curved wall spaced peripherally from the ends of the slot, a supporting member, a nipple adapted to carry a wire and supported at one end in said supportin member and eXtending through the slot in the round member and having a transversely extending shoulder adjacent its other end, spring means compressed between the shoulder and the inner surface of the round member adjacent the slot for pressing the round member into frictional engagement with the supporting member, a concavo-convex strip of material adapted to cover the slot and engaging the inner surface of the round member, a slot in. the strip registering with but shorter than the slot in the round member, said strip bein slidable within the round member when it is rotated relative to the nipple, a washer disposed on the nipple between the strip and the spring means, said washer being of sufficient Width to cover the slot in the strip and being slidable relative to the strip, and a conduit adapted to carry a wire, said conduit communicating with the hole in the round member and being secured to and projecting outwardly from the curved side of the round member.

BERTRAM A. WILSON.

REFERENCES CIITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Germany of 1931 

